Crossbows



g- 1966 G. M. STEVENS CROSSBOWS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 12, 1964 Aug. 1966 G. M. STEVENS 3,26%),380

CROSSBOWS Filed May 12, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [36 (38/41/40 I /2 (59 ea IN VEN F" OR 7 m Sm United States Patent 3,269,380 CROSSBOWS George M. Stevens, Box 72, Huntsville, Ark. Filed May 12, 1964, Ser. No. 366,769 4 Claims. (Cl. 124-25) This invention relates to crossbows and it has for one of its objects a compact unit for carrying.

A further object is to reduce Weight without sacrificing rugged construction.

A further object is to provide a highly accurate weapon having a simple one piece lock.

Other objects such as ease of take-down, accessibility of parts for cleaning, availability of extra arrows, and a tool readily available for dismantling will be more fully described hereinafter and then set forth in the claims.

In the drawings wherein I have illustrated a novel survival crossbow embodying my invention,

FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing the crossbow in the cocked position with an arrow in position for firing.

FIG.' 2 is a side elevation with the left side plate of the' barrel portion removed, showing the parts in their forward position prior to drawing the string.

FIGS. 3 and 4 respectively show the removed left side plate in elevation and edge views, carrying an extra arrow in its receiver members.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the sliding lock in its drawn position.

FIG. 6 is an edge view of the assembled bow limbs and shows how they are secured to the bow bracket.

FIG. 7 is a cross section through the barrel side plates showing how they form guiding surfaces for the lock case and also form the arrow groove.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the member forming the string detent, trigger and latch pivot, with detail of the arrow butt positioner.

FIG. 9 is a sketch showing the manual operation of cocking the bow.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the servicing tool comprising a wrench, a file and a screwdriver.

FIG. 11 shows the right hand barrel portion side plate viewed from the rear with looking catch and rear spacer block in place.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the weapon has all the elements of an orthodox crossbow, a bow 1, 1a, a bow string 2, a barrel stock 3, a string detent 4, a trigger 5 to release the string, a shoulder stock 6, with a pistol grip 7, a forearm grip 8, and a missile comprising a short arrow 9, also as shown by FIG. 7 an arrow groove 10, 10a.

As relating to my invention FIG. 2 shows how small the weapon becomes when the shoulder stock 6 is run forward, and if the bow limbs 1, 1a, are removed by unscrewing cap screws 11, 11a from the mounting brackets 12, 12a, FIG. 6.

To cock the how, the lock case 13, 13a containing its one piece releasable nut 14 is run forward by shoulder stock 6 until the inclined plane 15 on the string detent 4 intercepts the bow string 2 at its normal or static position and by continued forward travel will slide under the string where it is forced up into position again by compression spring 16 after it has passed the string, pivoting at 17 on member 18 as shown in FIG. 2. Since member 18 is rigidly secured to the lock case 13, 13a, being confined between its two halves and pinned at 19 and also is rigidly secured to the shoulder stock memher 6 at 20, 20a with a weld or other secure fastening and since the lock case is a sliding fit between barrel plates 3, 3a, and section X, Y, of the shoulder stock member 6 forms a convenient hand grip for manipula- "Ice tion, it will be seen from FIG. 10 that by placing the feet against the barrel plates and on the bow brackets 12, 12a, and pulling upward on handle X, Y, a bow of something over lbs. can be easily drawn to the cocked position where it is secured by latch 21 on the barrel and catch 22 on member 18 holding the lock with bow drawn until the operator desires to shoot.

Should the operator decide not to shoot but wishes to release the bow tension he need only to pull again on handle X, Y, releasing the strain on latch 21 when thumb pressure on the latch extension 23 will release same and let the bow pull the look back to its normal braced position, whereby the weapon is again ready to draw as shown in FIG. 2.

While other type locks may be substituted for the one illustrated, this one piece offers extreme simplicity highly desirable in this type of weapon. The pivot 17 being substantially above the string travel it will be seen that the stronger the bows pull the more the lock member 14 will try to lift and if free to do so would raise the string center to a direct line between the pivot 17 and the bow tips but is prevented from doing so by contact with the lock case at 50. Even with stout hows the trigger pull does not become excessive since the angle of the string detent 45 approximates a perpendicular to a tangent through the pivot 17 and reasonable pressure on the trigger 5 will swing this angle which is already positioned by contact at 50 below center out from under the string, releasing same.

Since a large part of a crossbows accuracy depends on precision drawing of the string and its placement on the latch with simillar precision in delivery of the arrow it will be seen that lock finger 4 starts its drawing contact with the string at a centered position in the groove 10, 10a and retains this position for the full length of the draw into the locked position for firing with its contact with the string exactly centered as when it started at the braced position. Then since the forward portion of the string detent 4 is provided with a centered scarf 24 to receive the butt 25 of the arrow 9 and the forward portion of the arrow automatically centers the groove its circumference being in contact with the groove edges 10, 10a, it will be seen that when the lock is tripped the thrust line against the arrow butt will give the arrow perfect lateral delivery. To assure an accurate vertical delivery it will be seen from FIG. 1, that the bow being mounted slightly below the barrel surfaces the bow tips will force the string to ride these surfaces with some pressure, except when in forcing the nut down on release the string counters with a slight lift, the disturbing effect of this action on the arrow is prevented by cutting the scarf 24 to a desired distance in front of the string contact forming the arrow butt stop 26 thus allowing the released string to recover from any disturbance before contact with the arrow butt.

The assembly and takedown of the weapon is simple and will be self evident from the drawings, it consists of bolting the two bow limbs 1, 1a, to the forward bow brackets 12, 12a, as shown in FIG. 6. These brackets are fitted into and permanently secured to the forward barrel spacer 34, FIGS. 2 and 6, this is done with cap screws 11, 11a the brackets being threaded to receive same 35, and then stringing the bow.

The left side barrel channel 3 is shown removable and secured by only two bolts 36, 36a. This gives easy access for cleaning in case of the sliding members being clogged with mud or sand. Likewise the two halves of the lock case 13, 13a may be taken apart by loosening the two bolts 37, 37a FIGS. 2 and 3.

A tool 28 for servicing the weapon is carried in a slot 29 in the forearm member 8, FIG. 2 and secured by a 3 recessed wing belt 30, FIG. 1. This tool combines a wrench 31 and a screwdriver 32 and as shown in FIG. 9 preferably has a file surface 33 to smooth up dents etc. that may occur to barrel edges, or to smooth up burrs or sharpen arrow heads.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 showing the removed left barrel side 3 which has arrow retaining members 38, 39, which are permanently secured to the plate 3 and have recesses to receive as well as protect an auxiliary arrow 9a. The arrow point 40 is slid into recess 41 in the forward member 38 where it engages compression spring 43 which is manually compressed by pushing the arrow forward while the arrow butt portion 25 is inserted in slot 42 of the rear member 39 ahead of crossmember 44. It is then released where pressure from spring 43 will slide the butt 25 under cross member 44, spring 43 holding the arrow against both loss or rattling. The arrow is quickly removed when needed by simply pushing forward and lifting out the butt.

Having illustrated and described my invention as pertaining to a survival or food procuring crossbow as might be used by members of museum expeditions or military detachment, I claim:

1. A crossbow comprising a barrel portion forming the arrow groove and having opposed bow limbs secured transversely to its forward end, a bow string secured to the ends of the said bow limbs and extending transversely across the said arrow groove, a lock case containing a vertically projecting pivoted string detent member which is secured to the said lock case member on a bearing forming a pivot and a depending trigger and secured to a shoulder stock member, the said lock case and shoulder stock slidably mounted on the said barrel portion, the said pivoted string detent extending vertically through the said arrow groove and engageable with the said bow string to draw the said bow limbs to a cocked position, a catch member pivotably secured at the rear of the said barrel portion and releasably engageable with the said lock case to retain same in the cocked position, a forearm-- grip attached to the said barrel portion and a depending pistol grip attached to the shoulder stock member for proper holding, members secured to the sides of the barrel portion to retain auxiliary arrows, and a recess in the said forearm grip member containing a service tool whereby a complete weapon is achieved suitable for isolated use, substantially as specified.

2. A crossbow as defined in claim 1 in which the pivoted string detent and depending trigger are combined in one piece and having the said pivot located above the barrel portion whereby tension from the bow string will tend to lift the detent against accidental discharge, the said pivoted string detent having a sloped string contact surface and being positioned below the said pivot will release the bow string with only nominal pressure applied to the depending trigger.

3. A crossbow as claimed in claim 1 in which the pivoted string detent has a forward portion having a string contact surface, the said string contact surface comprising an inclined plane for self setting on the bow string and containing a scarf to receive the arrow butt, substantially as specified.

4. A crossbow as defined in claim 1 in which the shoulder stock member is of light tubular construction and having shoulder butt portion forming a convenient hand grip for operating the sliding lock case to its forward position and for drawing the bow. 

1. A CROSSBOW COMPRISING A BARREL PORTION FORMING THE ARROW GROOVE AND HAVING OPPOSED BOW LIMBS SECURED TRANSVERSELY TO ITS FORWARD END, A BOW STRING SECURED TO THE ENDS OF THE SAID BOW LIMBS AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY ACROSS THE SAID ARROW GROOVE, A LOCK CASE CONTAINING A VERTICALLY PROJECTING PIVOTED STRING DETENT MEMBER WHICH IS SECURED TO THE SAID LOCK CASE MEMBER ON A BEARING FORMING A PIVOT AND A DEPENDING TRIGGER AND SECURED TO A SHOULDER STOCK MEMBER, THE SAID LOCK CASE AND SHOULDER STOCK SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON THE SAID BARREL PORTION, THE SAID PIVOTED STRING DETENT EXTENDING VERTICALLY THROUGH THE SAID ARROW GROOVE AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE SAID BOW STRING TO DRAW THE SAID BOW LIMBS TO A COCKED POSITION, A CATCH MEMBER PIVOTABLY SECURED AT THE REAR OF THE SAID BARREL PORTION AND RELEASABLY ENGAGEABLE WITH THE SAID LOCK CASE TO RETAIN SAME IN THE COCKED POSITION, A FOREARM GRIP ATTACHED TO THE SAID BARREL PORTION AND A DEPENDING PISTOL GRIP ATTACHED TO THE SHOULDER STOCK MEMBER FOR PROPER HOLDING MEMBERS SECURED TO THE SIDES OF THE BARREL PORTION TO RETAIN AUXILIARY ARROWS, AND A RECESS IN THE SAID FOREARM GRIP MEMBER CONTAINING A SERVICE TOOL WHEREBY A COMPLETE WEAPON IS ACHIEVED SUITABLE FOR ISOLATED USE, SUBSTANTIALLY AS SPECIFIED. 